Previous versions of this course included a fast section of the A404 from Marlow, but Sunday's course did not, being concentrated on the A4 between Maidenhead and Twyford, and thus was not as likely to produce fast times.

Gaida's time was just faster than ‘evens' (20mph) at 1.14:39.

Rod MacFadyen also started, but was brought to a halt after 10 minutes by a rear-wheel puncture.

Two riders tied on 56:27 for fastest ride of the day.

Meanwhile, Paul Gaida travelled to Gloucester to ride the Gloucester City CC hilly 25 on the Maisemore course.

Although the road surface is good, the course is rolling and offers a stern test.

Nik Gardiner specialises in long-distance time trials, but produced the fastest ride of the day to win in a time of 57:00.

Gaida finished in 27th position with a hard-fought 1.08:17.

Gaida's aim was partially just to maintain his fitness.

He and his regular tandem partner Stewart House have scheduled an attempt under Road Racing Association (RRA) rules on Wantage to Winchester and back.

The RRA oversees attempts to set record times over point-to-point routes, and Gaida and House will need to beat 3hrs 30mins to set the fastest time for this 90-mile route on October 24.

M Stewart House will be promoting, and riding in, his annual timetrial.co.uk hillclimb event on Sunday morning.

The course used is Streatley bank, which has a rise of around 100 metres in under a kilometre, becoming increasingly steep near the top.

As well as attracting hillclimb specialists such as Rob English, the race is also the third and concluding event in Reading CC's ‘King of the Hills' competition.